In 2005, Edie Widder, Ph.D. founded the Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) in Fort Pierce, Florida, with a focus on developing innovative technologies to protect and restore our aquatic ecosystems and the species they sustain.

Housed in the historic Coast Guard station in Fort Pierce, Florida, ORCA’s main campus is home to ORCA’s corporate offices, the ORCA FAST™ and Sentinel offices and laboratory. ORCA’s engineering facilities are located in Satellite Beach, Florida.

Since its inception, Dr. Widder and the ORCA team of engineers, research scientists and marine biologists have achieved exciting progress in using the latest technologies to develop low-cost solutions for analysis of our polluted waterways.

Among the programs currently underway at ORCA, The ORCA Kilroy, the ORCA FAST™ (Fast Assessment of Sediment Toxicity) and the ORCA Sentinel programs provide information on water characteristics and toxicity that when combined can be used to determine sources of non-point source pollution in coastal and estuary waters.

In addition to coastal and estuary conservation, ORCA’s Deep Sea Conservation programs utilize current technology to provide real time and video footage of deep ocean life and conditions. The ORCA Eye In The Sea (EITS) is a real time camera system streaming continuous video to shore for months at a time while the ORCA Medusa is a deployable camera system capable of recording up to 72 hours of continuous video at depths up to 2000 meters.

By combining innovative technology and applied science, ORCA is leading the way in protection and conservation of our valuable coast, estuaries and oceans -- saving these precious habitats for the generations of tomorrow.

"ORCA has a clear understanding of the challenges they need to tackle now, as well as a well thought out plan for applying the technology of Kilroy into meaningful conservation efforts."-Alexandra Cousteau
Ocean Conservationist

DID YOU KNOW?
In one year, three times as much rubbish is dumped into the world's oceans as the weight of fish caught.